Post by 2 Dogs on Nov 3, 2018 13:11:50 GMT -5
So, I have gotten the Blackhawks sights going from scratch and have got a batch out. I turned my attention to the BFR fronts and little by little worked my way through some obstacles to where I thought I had them ready and then I checked the screw fit.
Hmmm, what gives here, this screw doesn't fit right! Made some phone calls and started checking because evidently BFR made a front sight screw change.
Nearly as I can tell there are 3 different screws.
6x40 Slot head
6x42 Slot head
6x32 Hex head
The 6x40 is the same pitch as what Ruger uses for their Single Six pattern. The 6x32 Hex head has a thicker body and requires the screw hole to be recessed quite a bit deeper. I looked at the front sight one of the guys sent me and sure enough the Hex head fits flush but the slot head is sitting deeper. As to the Ruger screw, I have had a couple of knowledgeable guys tell me the Ruger screw works. The difference between 42 TPI and 40 TPI isn't so much that a big screw driver wouldn't stretch the threads and make it fit. I don't know.
So, I have the screw hole worked out. I can't be sure which screw you have, but it is a hex it is going to sit flush and the slot head guys will have a recessed front screw. I don't know or am not saying this is bad, but to me flush is prettier.
So, I have a batch of BFR sights ready to blue. I have another batch on the mill.
Now to the delays, I got a batch of blanks (18) that was very hard steel. I was able to cut them but man were they hard on my tools. When I got to the final cut, the barrel radius cut, the cutter gave up after 6 cuts. I sent them hard blanks out to be heat treated. After about 10 days I got them back and still can't cut the radius. I also dulled another cutter almost immediately. So, now I have a cutter on the way with replaceable blades. These stupid blanks have picked a fight with the wrong bandit. When your cutter starts getting beat up, it wont give you a nice clean cut so additional time is required to file and polish to get the machine marks out.
In the meantime, I tried to have some blanks laser cut to cut down on my time on the machine and get you guys some sights out. Well, the laser not only took that particular moment in time to malfunction but when I asked for and received those laser cut blanks to see if I could save them I discovered the heat from the laser hardened the outside surface and jacked yet another cutter. Really? I barely touched the thing!!
So I have some new tools on the way and some new bar stock that is machining nicely. I haven't given up on the 18 hard bodies and perhaps I can get some blanks done with a water jet to avoid the surface hardening. As to the CNC guy, he did send me a email and I replied but nothing back. I may have to switch horses here and am looking at it with a couple other guys.
While I am waiting for it to dry up outside a little so I can blue I will work my way through this newest run of sight blanks which seem to be coming along nicely. Whew!
Hmmm, what gives here, this screw doesn't fit right! Made some phone calls and started checking because evidently BFR made a front sight screw change.
Nearly as I can tell there are 3 different screws.
6x40 Slot head
6x42 Slot head
6x32 Hex head
The 6x40 is the same pitch as what Ruger uses for their Single Six pattern. The 6x32 Hex head has a thicker body and requires the screw hole to be recessed quite a bit deeper. I looked at the front sight one of the guys sent me and sure enough the Hex head fits flush but the slot head is sitting deeper. As to the Ruger screw, I have had a couple of knowledgeable guys tell me the Ruger screw works. The difference between 42 TPI and 40 TPI isn't so much that a big screw driver wouldn't stretch the threads and make it fit. I don't know.
So, I have the screw hole worked out. I can't be sure which screw you have, but it is a hex it is going to sit flush and the slot head guys will have a recessed front screw. I don't know or am not saying this is bad, but to me flush is prettier.
So, I have a batch of BFR sights ready to blue. I have another batch on the mill.
Now to the delays, I got a batch of blanks (18) that was very hard steel. I was able to cut them but man were they hard on my tools. When I got to the final cut, the barrel radius cut, the cutter gave up after 6 cuts. I sent them hard blanks out to be heat treated. After about 10 days I got them back and still can't cut the radius. I also dulled another cutter almost immediately. So, now I have a cutter on the way with replaceable blades. These stupid blanks have picked a fight with the wrong bandit. When your cutter starts getting beat up, it wont give you a nice clean cut so additional time is required to file and polish to get the machine marks out.
In the meantime, I tried to have some blanks laser cut to cut down on my time on the machine and get you guys some sights out. Well, the laser not only took that particular moment in time to malfunction but when I asked for and received those laser cut blanks to see if I could save them I discovered the heat from the laser hardened the outside surface and jacked yet another cutter. Really? I barely touched the thing!!
So I have some new tools on the way and some new bar stock that is machining nicely. I haven't given up on the 18 hard bodies and perhaps I can get some blanks done with a water jet to avoid the surface hardening. As to the CNC guy, he did send me a email and I replied but nothing back. I may have to switch horses here and am looking at it with a couple other guys.
While I am waiting for it to dry up outside a little so I can blue I will work my way through this newest run of sight blanks which seem to be coming along nicely. Whew!